{"id":1916,"date":"2022-01-03T16:18:59","date_gmt":"2022-01-03T08:18:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.icaridea.com\/?p=1916"},"modified":"2022-01-03T16:18:59","modified_gmt":"2022-01-03T08:18:59","slug":"heres-why-a-spacex-astronaut-bought-a-ford-instead-of-a-tesla","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.icaridea.com\/?p=1916","title":{"rendered":"Here’s why a SpaceX astronaut bought a Ford instead of a Tesla"},"content":{"rendered":"

close \"Fox Video <\/p>\n

Fox News Autos test drive: 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E<\/h4>\n

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E is the automaker’s first purpose-built electric car and a very different kind of pony. Fox News Autos Editor Gary Gastelu reports.<\/p>\n

Sian Proctor made history in September she became the first Back female pilot of a spacecraft during a SpaceX mission, but she won’t be flying around on Earth in one of Elon Musk’s Teslas.<\/p>\n

\"Sian <\/p>\n

\n Sian Proctor\u00a0was ferried to the launch pad in a Tesla Model X.
\n (Joe Raedle\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The geoscientist, who was a member of the all-civilian Inspiration4 crew, revealed on Twitter this week that she’d purchased a Ford Mustang Mach-E, causing many commenters to scratch their heads at the decision.<\/p>\n

She explained the choice wasn’t meant as a slight at the owner of SpaceX, but mostly due to practical concerns.<\/p>\n

“Tesla is a great company & I LOVE SpaceX. But there were many factors to my decision. A year ago I was divorced, broke, & living w\/my brother. What a difference a year can make! I\u2019m full of #gratitude for my 1st EV & I believe we are stronger working together toward a better,” Proctor wrote.<\/p>\n

She added that the lower base price and $7,500 tax credit the Mustang Mach-E qualifies for, along with its availability, sealed the deal.<\/p>\n

\"Sian <\/p>\n

\n Sian Proctor\u00a0was a candidate to become a NASA astronaut in 2009.
\n (Eugene Gologursky\/Getty Images for TIME Studios and Known)<\/p>\n

“The overall feel and ergonomics is important and I loved my test drive but availability, tax credit, and overall final price where the three biggest factors,” Proctor tweeted.<\/p>\n

“You can only order a new Tesla. There aren\u2019t any in stock.”<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP<\/p>\n

Due to its massive sales over the past decade, Tesla has exhausted its allotment of federal tax credits, while Ford has yet to reach the 200,000-vehicle limit that triggers the phase-out of the incentive.<\/p>\n

The Tesla Model Y currently starts at $60,190 while the base Ford Mustang Mach-E is $37,495 after the credit is deducted.<\/p>\n

Proctor also made it clear that Ford did not give her the car as a promotional stunt.<\/p>\n

“I fully purchased it. I\u2019m flattered that everyone thinks someone, Tesla or Ford, would give me a car. Of course I\u2019d totally take it if they did!”<\/p>\n

Musk has not yet commented on Proctor’s car, but Ford CEO Jim Farley did congratulate her, posting, “Congrats on your new ride, @DrSianProctor! The Space White was a great choice.”<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM FOX NEWS AUTOS<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

close Video Fox News Autos test drive: 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E is the automaker’s first purpose-built electric car and a very different kind of pony.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1917,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.icaridea.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1916"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.icaridea.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.icaridea.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.icaridea.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.icaridea.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1916"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.icaridea.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1916\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.icaridea.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1917"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.icaridea.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1916"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.icaridea.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1916"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.icaridea.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1916"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}